Local companies create shelters for Haitian children

Saturday

Jul 31, 2010 at 10:18 PM

Six months after the calamitous earthquake in Haiti that made headlines around the world, the need for assistance remains acute and two Rochester companies recently did their part to provide shelter to orphaned children,

DON CUDDY

Six months after the calamitous earthquake in Haiti that made headlines around the world, the need for assistance remains acute and two Rochester companies recently did their part to provide shelter to orphaned children,

Even after a massive international relief effort, hundreds of thousands of people still live under tarps or in crude shelters.

Sperry Sails and Sperry Tents, companion businesses in Rochester, were recently approached for help by organizers of a project called Domes for Haiti, run by a New York photographer named Lopi LaRoe. LaRoe discovered Sperry Tents after it donated and shipped about 10,000 square feet of tents, poles, and hardware to Haiti in the immediate aftermath of the quake, said Matt Sperry, president of Sperry Sails. His brother Tim owns Sperry Tents.

"This woman thought that building small geodesic domes, with their rigid structure, would be very windproof and hurricane resistant if anchored with concrete footings. So she asked us to build the canvas covers for the frames. We thought it was a great idea so we did it for next to nothing," Sperry said. "We were happy to help out as much as we could afford."

Ten of the domes, each one 17 feet in diameter, will be erected in Haiti to provide shelter for around 100 orphaned children, Sperry said. As hurricane season approaches, the need for better housing becomes more urgent daily. Sperry completed the covers in just two weeks.

"We set one up here and tested it. We put seven windows and a door in each one. They can be opened. You can roll up the sides to let fresh air in and there are screens. I imagine the interior arrangements will be kept pretty simple. It's primarily to get people shelter from wind and rain. This is just a small effort but it's one of many," he said.

LaRoe also wanted the tents to be as environmentally friendly as possible, Sperry said.

"She was adamant that we not use vinyl. PVC is just bad for the world. So we used a 14-ounce cotton-poly blend with a coating on it which we use a lot in the industry and it will go about eight years. It's weatherproof, although it's not quite as rugged as vinyl."

According to multiple reports, much of the relief effort in Haiti has been greatly hampered by bureaucracy and this one appears to be no exception.

"It was a bunch of red tape to get them there," Sperry said. "Even though this is donated gear, she is having to pay 27 percent duty."

LaRoe expressed similar frustration on the blog she maintains on her web site www.domesforhaiti.org, which is updated frequently.

She could not be reached for comment on this article.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.